title: The Chiari Symptom Profile: development and validation of a Chiari-/syringomyelia-specific questionnaire.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Chiari Symptom Profile (CSP) was developed to provide a quantitative assessment of self-reported Chiari (CMI)-related symptoms and their impact on the individual's quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  The instrument was developed in three phases. Phase I consisted of instrument development using exploratory item analysis from the literature and direct patient evaluations. The item pool was then analyzed and tested on a convenience sample of eight CMI patients. Interitem correlation matrix suggested redundancy of 13 questions. These items were discarded, resulting in a final questionnaire consisting of 57 items, measuring four realms: physical, functional, psychological, and social. Phases II and III tested the reliability and validity of the instrument using a large sample of patients diagnosed with Chiari/syringomyelia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis confirmed that the CSP has excellent validity and reliability with a Cronbach's alpha of .958 (p = .0001) and factor loadings ranging from .784 to .321.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CSP is a self-reported, Chiari-/syringomyelia-specific instrument intended to provide a quantitative analysis of symptoms and their impact on the individual's quality of life. The CSP has shown statistically significant content validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. The CSP will enhance the provider's understanding of Chiari-/syringomyelia-related symptoms, quantify the impact of self-reported symptoms on quality of life, help to determine if interventions are of benefit, and allow comparison of symptomatic improvement/outcome following different surgical techniques.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Center of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA. Diane.Mueller@hcahealthcare.com
authors.forename: Diane M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Oro'
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001139:Arnold-Chiari Malformation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000592:standards; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D013595:Syringomyelia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult